Baramati witnessed an emotional crescendo on Thursday as NCP stalwart and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was consigned to flames with full governmental pomp. The event drew a constellation of leaders, reflecting Pawar’s pivotal role in Maharashtra’s power corridors.
Sons administering the funeral fire, family by their side—the scene was heart-wrenching. Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Raj Thackeray, and others converged, their presence a testament to Pawar’s bridging prowess in fractured politics.
Massive crowds turned the final procession into a historic outpouring, jamming thoroughfares and halting normal life. Pawar’s body, brought to Katewadi earlier, symbolized the end of a dynamic chapter.
A Learjet 45 crash—VT-SSK, VSR Ventures—claimed Pawar and four others Wednesday at 8:45 AM. After aborting initial landing, it was cleared at 8:43 AM for Runway 11. AAIB probes as police logs ADR.
Maharashtra’s three-day blackout of celebrations, half-masted flags, honors a leader whose Baramati blueprint revolutionized Western Maharashtra. From sugar baron to strategist, Pawar’s imprint on policy endures.
As pyre smoke rose, admirers pondered the void. Yet, his vision for empowered villages and resilient economy lives on, fueling Maharashtra’s onward march.